A meeting of the Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum-Nepal working committee on Sunday decided to join the government only after a written agreement with the left alliance on constitution amendment.

Since the party’s entry into the Cabinet without a clear deal would give room for the Rastriya Janata Party-Nepal to criticise it, leaders say the SSF-N needs a face-saving pact for being a part of KP Sharma Oli-led government.

According to The Kathmandu Post, sources claimed that PM Oli’s latest engagements with RJP-N leaders with an aim to take the party on board have irked SSF-N leaders.

Earlier, SSF-N Co-chairman Rajendra Shrestha had said everything was set for the party to sign an agreement with the ruling alliance. But now leaders of the Madhes-based party say they need clarification of the term “necessity and significance” that Oli and CPN-UML leaders present as the basis for amending the constitution.

After the UML, which long maintained a tough stance against charter revision, became ready in principle for constitution amendment, the SSF-N had decided to join the government.

However, the ruling coalition of the UML and the CPN (Maoist Centre) failed to sign the agreement with the SSF-N for bringing the party in when Oli extended the Cabinet on Friday.

“Most probably, the SSF-N will hold talks with ruling party leaders including Prime Minister Oli on Monday to sort the issues,” said Ranadhwoj Kandangwa, general secretary of the SSF-N.

SSF-N Chairman Upendra Yadav or Co-chair Shrestha is tipped to lead the three-member party team in the Cabinet. Party leaders have demanded that one top leader should remain out of the government for handling the party and its parliamentary affairs.